Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive Officer
Justin W. Mates, Deputy County Executive
Subject: Measure K: Third Amendment to the Agreement with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County for Legal Services Supporting Immigrant Residents of San Mateo County
RECOMMENDATION:
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Measure K: Adopt a resolution approving a third amendment to the agreement with Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County to provide continued legal services supporting immigrant residents of San Mateo County, extending the term through June 30, 2023 and increasing the amount payable under the agreement by $295,651, to an amount not to exceed $1,156,771.
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BACKGROUND:
According to the American Community Survey, a third of San Mateo County residents are foreign-born and many of these residents have children who are United States citizens. These immigrants are important to the vitality of our community and to the San Mateo County economy. The County has identified a need for legal services to support immigrants in the community.
These needed services include: legal workshops providing immigrants with information on topics such as their rights, the path to citizenship, and immigration benefits (e.g., relief for crime victims, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), Special Immigrant Juveniles, Asylum, removal defense); brief individual consultations and assistance to screen immigrants for potential benefits and to make appropriate legal referrals; assisting immigrants in applying for certain forms of immigration relief, such as special immigrant juvenile status (for abused and abandoned youth), U visas (for crime victims), and DACA benefits; and, responding to immediate and initial needs of immigrants and families affected by enforcement operations.
The County of San Mateo has contracted with the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (Legal Aid Society) to provide the services described above since 2017, owing to Legal Aid Society’s familiarity with the legal needs of San Mateo County residents, their long experience working with these populations, and their ability to continue providing these services without interruption. The most recent contract between the County and the Legal Aid Society for these services was entered on July 1, 2019, and has been amended twice thus far. The current term of the agreement is through June 30, 2022, and the maximum amount expendable is $861,120.
DISCUSSION:
Since July 2017, the Legal Aid Society, in coordination with partner subcontractor agencies, hosted close to 100 workshops both in-person and virtual which reached over 2,000 individuals, and have provided legal representation to over 1,000 residents of San Mateo County. Staff is in the process of assessing future community need and identifying areas where support is most suitable, given the change in the national political climate. While this analysis proceeds, in light of the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency and turmoil in eastern Europe and other parts of the world, there remains a need for the continued provision of the services described above. Legal Aid Society and its partner agencies remain uniquely suited to provide these services to County residents.
Under these circumstances, staff recommends that the County further amend the existing contract with the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County to extend its term for one additional year, through June 30, 2023 and to increase the maximum amount payable thereunder by $295,651, for an amount not to exceed $1,156,771. The Legal Aid Society subcontracts with partner agencies for some of the services set forth in the agreement.
The amendment and resolution have been reviewed and approved by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-2020 |
FY 2020-2021 |
|
Legal Representation- Minimum 150 cases |
254 |
196 |
|
Individual Consultation- Offered at 4 workshops |
22 |
17 |
|
Legal Workshops- Total of 12 provided |
30 |
23 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amended agreement is from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, increasing the agreement by $295,651 for a revised amount of $1,156,771. Appropriation for this amount payable under the amendment has been included in the County Manager’s Office FY 2022-23 Recommended Budget. This contract will be fully funded by Measure K Reserves.